MBWI 09

Chapter – 09

The word proposal somehow felt much heavier than the word request.

“What kind of proposal?”

“Before you came, I discussed the current situation thoroughly with Secretary Tak and thought about what the best way to handle this would be.”

“So what’s the solution?”

“Even if we deny it here, people won’t believe us. The scandal between you and me is their favorite kind of Cinderella story.”

“It’s not true, so we should just say that. Why care about what other people think?”

“I’m in a position where I have no choice but to care about public attention. If you don’t mind… how about becoming my bride?”

What kind of nonsense is that?

Startled, Gaeun covered her mouth and shook her head firmly in refusal.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. And right now—immediately! Release an article saying you and I have nothing to do with each other.”

Dumbfounded, Gaeun deliberately slammed the door loudly and returned to her room.

How could he think so little of her that he would suggest marriage just to cover up a trivial scandal? She was beyond disbelief—she was angry.

She checked the phone she had left on silent in her room and sighed at the enormous number of messages and missed calls.

She hesitated when she saw a call from her mother, her finger hovering over the screen before pulling back.

Checking what people were saying online felt more urgent than answering calls.

Secretary Tak had already shown her materials, but she needed to see it with her own eyes to properly understand the situation.

When she looked at the trending search terms, she grabbed her head.

Joo Seokjin, Jushin Retail, Joo Seokjin fiancée, T Hotel, Bangkok trip, Jushin Hotel…

All the trending searches were related to him and her.

Of all times, the scandal had to break when the country was unusually quiet.

New articles kept appearing as if their marriage was already a confirmed fact.

“What? Shotgun wedding? These people are insane!”

Seeing an article suggesting she got pregnant first and would marry because of it made her furious. She gulped down the coffee she had bought.

That wasn’t enough to calm her anger, so she loudly crunched the remaining ice.

“Is my face going to become so famous that I won’t be able to live in Korea anymore? Ugh, I’m seriously going crazy.”

“—Hey! Oh Gaeun!”

The sudden voice from her phone made her hands tremble.

She had accidentally answered a call from Hankyung.

Of all people, why did she have to answer that bastard’s call?

“What?”

Her voice was full of irritation.

—How could you do this to me? Marriage?

“What are you talking about?”

—It’s a joke, right? How could you possibly become the daughter-in-law of Jushin Group? Are you just trying to piss me off? This is too much even for a joke.

“Wow, you really talk a lot of nonsense. Excuse me, Jung Hankyung?”

—No matter how mad you are at me, how could you go on a trip with another guy? What kind of woman has no loyalty like that?

His shameless words made her irritation explode.

How could he forget that he was the one who cheated and jumped into another relationship?

“Loyalty? You talking about loyalty is ridiculous. If you had to choose between Joo Seokjin and a piece of trash like Jung Hankyung, who would you marry? This isn’t even the same weight class. It’s not even a game.”

—Did you just say everything you wanted?

“What?”

—Weight class? I didn’t think you were like this. You’re such a materialistic woman. Pretending to be innocent while dating me, and now that you like Joo Seokjin you’re happily sleeping with him and spreading your legs?

“Hey, you bastard. Spreading my legs? When I get back to Korea, I’ll sew that filthy mouth of yours shut with a needle. How dare you say something so disgusting to me?”

After seven years together, he should have known what kind of person she was.

She had never imagined someone who once meant everything to her would stab her like this.

His words broke even the last piece of emotional strength she had been holding onto.

“Listen carefully. Maybe my late father felt sorry for the life I wasted dating trash like you and sent me a man like Seokjin. Probably so I wouldn’t ever get involved with a rotten guy who didn’t even show up at his funeral.”

—Hey, that’s…

“I’m the future daughter-in-law of Jushin Group now. I’m not on the same level as someone insignificant like you, so how about you shut your mouth?”

—You… you…!

“Try contacting me again. Next time I’ll make sure your life ends up in the gutter. Don’t forget that.”

After hanging up, Gaeun threw herself onto the bed and burst into tears.

Two years ago, when her father suddenly died in an accident, Hankyung hadn’t even come to the funeral.

He said their relationship wasn’t serious enough yet to attend family events.

She had thought his reasoning made some sense and didn’t argue.

But that resentment had remained as a wound in her heart.

After crying for a long time, she finally calmed down and remembered what she had said to him.

Our Seokjin. Daughter-in-law of Jushin Group.

“Seriously… what was I thinking?”

If Hankyung hadn’t provoked her, she wouldn’t have gone that far.

She thought carefully.

For whatever reason, Seokjin needed a woman to marry.

If he was even interviewing candidates for marriage, it meant he was desperate.

Which meant she actually held the advantage.

Wait.

She suddenly remembered she had told him earlier to immediately deny the scandal.

Gaeun immediately went to his room and knocked.

When he opened the door, she asked while catching her breath:

“…About what you said earlier.”

“Please come inside first.”

She entered his room.

Secretary Tak was nowhere to be seen.

Don’t tell me…

“President Joo Seokjin.”

“Yes, Miss Oh Gaeun.”

“The woman you need to marry… I’ll do it.”

She expected him to accept immediately, but his face showed no emotion.

“May I ask why you changed your mind?”

“….”

She couldn’t exactly say it was because of her ex-boyfriend.

Right. Employment.

She needed a job anyway, and no matter how much it was, he seemed capable of paying well for a “bride.”

“I’m trying to get a job. As you can see, I really need one.”

“A job?”

“You’ll at least pay compensation, right? You’re not looking for a wife as a volunteer position, are you?”

“No. Please sit down first.”

As she sat, Seokjin walked to the refrigerator and took out an ice pack from the freezer.

“Were you crying?”

“Huh?”

“Your eyes are red… and swollen.”

She hadn’t checked a mirror in her rush.

She pressed the ice pack against her eyes.

“Secretary Tak, don’t release the correction article. Instead, arrange for us to leave for Korea immediately.”

“Okay, got it.”

Fortunately, the correction article hadn’t been published yet.

After hanging up, Seokjin held out his hand.

“We’ll discuss the details on the plane. We’re leaving for the airport right now, so pack your things and come out immediately.”

“Right now?”

“Since you agreed, we need to resolve this as quickly as possible. Please hurry.”

Back in her room, Gaeun shoved all her scattered belongings into her suitcase.

Should I call Mom?

She shook her head.

Since she was going back to Korea anyway, it would be better to explain in person.

Guided by Secretary Tak, they headed straight to the airport.

The unusual departure process made her think Seokjin had used his influence.

“This… is this a private jet?”

Seeing the interior like something from a Hollywood reality show, she asked in amazement.

“The situation was too urgent.”

She suddenly wondered if she should have bought a lottery ticket instead of going on this trip.

It felt like she had used up all the luck of her life getting entangled with this man.

“First, thank you for your decision, even if you see this as employment.”

“Oh… it’s nothing to be thanked for.”

Eight parts of this decision were because she had misspoken anyway.

“As you said, you will be compensated sufficiently. Your monthly salary will be deposited into your account on the 25th. And…”

“Yes?”

“My father is… a difficult person. One of the biggest reasons I decided on this marriage is because of him.”

“As long as he’s not violent.”

After all the part-time jobs she had done, she felt she could handle most difficult people.

As long as they didn’t hit her.

“Violent…”

“Don’t tell me he beats people.”

“Only his sons. But he may hurt you with words, and he often makes strange demands.”

“Then I should get hazard pay.”

Since she was becoming his wife anyway, she intended to get as much money as possible.

When the time came to divorce, she even thought she might take a pillar of the Jushin Group with her.

“Very well.”

“Anything else?”

“The detailed terms will be provided later by Secretary Tak.”

“Then I have some conditions too.”

“If it’s about compensation…”

“Oh please. You’re obviously rich, so I trust you’ll pay a fair amount. But if your family says something to me, I can defend myself within reason, right?”

She knew his family marriages were mostly strategic.

So she didn’t know how they might treat someone like her with no background.

Rich people always guarded their closed world.

“If that happens to you…”

He’s not going to tell me to just endure it, is he?

She stared at him.

“I won’t just stand by and do nothing.”